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Post by obiwan27 on Mar 6, 2024 13:07:58 GMT 12
I am really pleased to say that I recorded a great episode this morning on The Great Escape, marking the 80th Anniversary, with guests Larry Hill, Tony Hoskin and Andy White. Really good and interesting discussion, I learned a lot. This episode will be released on Sunday the 24th of March 2024, the actual anniversary. Looking forward to it Dave. One of the first true life story war movies I recall watching and also reading the book of was 'the Wooden Horse' by Eric Williams. Interesting how this smaller escape attempt preceded the 'Great Escape' & I believe it was from the same camp, but a different compound.
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Post by obiwan27 on Mar 4, 2024 10:24:59 GMT 12
Thanks Dave and Brendon, really enjoyed this one. Lots of interesting info and it seems that this Mustang had the lowest hours of the fleet? Interesting insights shared by Brendon on warbird restorations and operation. Like most amazing things, Joe public only sees the end results and doesn't see the effort required by behind he scenes graft and dedication.
Always find it challenging/difficult to find time to listen to these shows but am starting to do at least one per weekend as I have to get through your UK ones as well :-)
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Post by obiwan27 on Feb 29, 2024 11:38:22 GMT 12
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Post by obiwan27 on Feb 21, 2024 11:43:10 GMT 12
Australia to immediately begin the eventual full retirement of all its ANZAC Frigates and to acquire 11 new general-purpose frigates. (in addition to 6 [not 9] Hunter class]. The 11 new general purpose frigates will provide maritime and land strike, air defence and escort capabilities, according to information released by the government in a statement on 20 February.
The new general purpose frigates will be accelerated to replace the Anzac Class frigates commissioned in the 1990s and early 2000s, with planned transition capability assurance upgrades no longer required.I suspect - I do NOT know, this is what Wellington has been waiting to likely go public, with its own planning on?? - Thought, 11 + 4 makes 15 (they tell me) www.defenceconnect.com.au/naval/13646-australia-commits-to-modern-and-lethal-general-purpose-frigates#:~:text=The%20new%20general%20purpose%20frigates%20will%20be%20modern%2C%20capable%20and,Henderson%20precinct%20in%20Western%20Australia. Hmmm I am not a naval person, but is there an option for the RNZN to pick up 3 Hunter Class frigates, now that the RAN has reduced it's order in a strategic move to have something ready to replace our own ANZAC frigates? Details here : www.navy.gov.au/fleet/ships-boats-craft/future/ffgPerhaps those with relevant Naval background could comment? thanks.
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Post by obiwan27 on Feb 21, 2024 11:38:08 GMT 12
Well that's them Fu*ked isn't it. Yes - anything described with the words " ‘Te Tiriti-led " is code for the woke cultural revolution that NZ & Western nations in their own form, have been undergoing for the past few years. Refer to Chinese Cultural Revolution as historic example of same. www.britannica.com/event/Cultural-Revolution/Rise-and-fall-of-Lin-Biao-1969-71Woke University students, teachers, university lecturers and their bedfellows in left wing politics are the NZ version of the 'Red guard'.
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Post by obiwan27 on Feb 8, 2024 15:20:23 GMT 12
Terrific news, thanks for sharing Dave! I was really impressed by the F-16 and C-17 displays at Ohakea in 2017 so it's going to be something special to see them at Wanaka (I know both types have been at Wanaka before but I've not attended since 2010). And Ken: I totally agree. A great lineup already! (also a belated happy birthday!) Thanks Zac - actually later this month and well before WoW, but yeah, just couldn't resist!
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Post by obiwan27 on Feb 7, 2024 11:47:47 GMT 12
While not watching the series right now, I'll do so when I find some time, so mainly making do with clips on YT for now. There's one short feature from YT about the production which shows some of how they have filmed some of the combat sequences. Also I have recently finished reading a book by Frank Murphy 'Luck of the Draw' - he was a B17 navigator who served in the 100th BG, was shot down and interned in a POW camp. www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60784639
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Post by obiwan27 on Feb 7, 2024 11:21:47 GMT 12
Well, a little late as a 60th birthday present to myself, but I have just bought a One Day Silver Pass for the Friday Practice day.
The Opportunity to see the F16 perform again is too good to miss!!
Then there's the Corsair, Graham Bethell's swansong display and the Must23 debut - too good not to purchase a ticket!
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Post by obiwan27 on Nov 30, 2023 10:20:23 GMT 12
Soviet pilot Viktor Belenko, who hijacked a MiG-25 military jet to Japan in September 1976, has died in the United States at the age of 76. The New York Times quoted Belenko's son on November 20 as saying that his father had died after a brief, unspecified illness in a nursing home in Rosebud, Illinois, on September 24. Belenko’s defection gave the U.S. Armed Forces an opportunity to study the jet, which was considered top secret in the Soviet Union at the time. In 1980, the U.S. Congress approved a law authorizing U.S. citizenship for Belenko. Link to article: www.rferl.org/a/russia-pilot-belenko-japan-mig25-defector-dies/32693702.html
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Post by obiwan27 on Aug 7, 2023 10:06:08 GMT 12
Seems very much like he situation that NZ found itself in prior to WW2, with a military that was equipped but not capable to respond to the cataclysmic events that were to follow.
Lend-lease provided huge equipment modernisation that was sorely needed, and the support of Allies was necessary as Japan entered the war and progressed south through SEA and towards Australia and NZ.
Post-war politicians failed to learn the lessons of history, or respond rapidly enough to a changing strategic environment.
This is the problem of politics and decision making based on popularity and personality.
Another headache for any potential new Government to tackle, among the many.
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Post by obiwan27 on Jul 17, 2023 10:04:47 GMT 12
Pretty sure the two seat A4 mod was done in the US. Thank you baz, wonder why they did them with two single seat canopies instead of like the RNZAF and RAN two seaters? I guess there is a reason for this be interested to hear the pros and/or cons of the different styles of two seater canopies? Wikipedia has info on the two seater and other A4 aircraft specifically purchased and modified for use by the RSAF. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ST_Aerospace_A-4SU_Super_Skyhawk"The TA-4S trainers were not the standard TA-4 with a common cockpit for the student and instructor pilot, but were instead rebuilt by Lockheed with a 28-inch (710 mm) fuselage plug inserted into the front fuselage and a separate bulged cockpit (giving better all round visibility) for the instructor seated behind the student pilot. This arrangement was unique for the RSAF but was not the first by Lockheed (the Lockheed SR-71B and U-2CT/U-2RT/TR-1B/TU-2S trainers also used stepped cockpits). As such converted/rebuilt airframes, these TA-4S trainers were powered by the original Wright J65 turbojet engines as used in the B/C models instead of the Pratt & Whitney J52 used by the purpose-built TA-4E/Fs tandem-seaters from Douglas assembly line; this was the main reason why the RSAF decided to not procure the TA-4E/Fs (if indeed an order was placed) and then having to maintain two different engines to power essentially the same aircraft type (a scenario not unlike having a fleet within a fleet)"
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Post by obiwan27 on Jul 17, 2023 10:04:36 GMT 12
Pretty sure the two seat A4 mod was done in the US. Thank you baz, wonder why they did them with two single seat canopies instead of like the RNZAF and RAN two seaters? I guess there is a reason for this be interested to hear the pros and/or cons of the different styles of two seater canopies? Wikipedia has info on the two seater and other A4 aircraft specifically purchased and modified for use by the RSAF. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ST_Aerospace_A-4SU_Super_Skyhawk"The TA-4S trainers were not the standard TA-4 with a common cockpit for the student and instructor pilot, but were instead rebuilt by Lockheed with a 28-inch (710 mm) fuselage plug inserted into the front fuselage and a separate bulged cockpit (giving better all round visibility) for the instructor seated behind the student pilot. This arrangement was unique for the RSAF but was not the first by Lockheed (the Lockheed SR-71B and U-2CT/U-2RT/TR-1B/TU-2S trainers also used stepped cockpits). As such converted/rebuilt airframes, these TA-4S trainers were powered by the original Wright J65 turbojet engines as used in the B/C models instead of the Pratt & Whitney J52 used by the purpose-built TA-4E/Fs tandem-seaters from Douglas assembly line; this was the main reason why the RSAF decided to not procure the TA-4E/Fs (if indeed an order was placed) and then having to maintain two different engines to power essentially the same aircraft type (a scenario not unlike having a fleet within a fleet)"
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Post by obiwan27 on Jun 28, 2023 12:15:21 GMT 12
A friend sent me this BBC podcast where we hear about Hurricanes buried Ukraine - unlike the Burma Spitfires, however, this story is based on actual items being dug up!! Eight are believed to be onsite and the item opens with journalist James Landale helping to move a Mk.II tailplane. As well as the recovery team James speaks to a gent from an aviation museum where it’s hoped one will be restored for display. The podcast is well worth a listen (skip to 13m40s).I’ll try and find a story with photos. Some brief mention of this at the Key Aero forum. No pictures though. Apparently the Ukrainans are hoping to rebuild one aircraft from the remains. Link : www.key.aero/forum/historic-aviation/8-scrapped-hurricanes-found-ukraine
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Post by obiwan27 on Jun 16, 2023 11:55:22 GMT 12
I wonder if it might be an opportunity for the RNZAF to try to recruit experienced C130 operators for the C130J from the RAF in both aircrew and ground crew ranks?? I saw this YT interview the other day and the guy was pretty gutted, but sounds like he has valuable experience. An opportunity if we needed to take it.
Link to YT video of interview. :
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Post by obiwan27 on Jun 14, 2023 15:43:41 GMT 12
This is one of the coolest threads I’ve seen on here. So awesome to see back to a time when we knew who our friends were and before we became dicks to them. Also awesome to see and read about things like tanker tracks in NZ! Remember the time well. Marred by the torching of the Spitfire replica outside the Brevet club, great PR by visiting military personnel to do a fundraiser towards it's replacement. Highlight for me as a 20 year old then, while waiting to catch the bus home in Cathedral Square, was 2 x RAAF F111s flying right over the city in formation. Absolutely exhilarating. Reality sunk home after realizing that it was probably the last time we'd ever see that sort of exercise with that sort of hardware again. However the visit by the 2 F16s from the F16 Demo Team for WOW 2018 captured a little of the magic as a one off, that's for sure. :-) EDIT : There's some content I posted back in the original thread on Page 2.
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Post by obiwan27 on May 19, 2023 12:39:22 GMT 12
Thanks so much. Anyone have any pics of this arrangement? there are a few pics on the 3 Squadron Association webpage, under History and the period 1964 to 1998. 3sqnassn.org.nz/history/1964-1998/
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Post by obiwan27 on May 18, 2023 8:06:26 GMT 12
Fantastic listen. Highly recommended to all. Overall the abiding feeling I had was of a sense of loss to the nation of all the talented folks, aircrew and technical staff, that public funds had been invested in over decades to hone, craft and develop their skills. The F16 purchase and rollout was in very good hands before the change of Government in 1999. Defence has been in a decline spiral since then with many poor purchasing decisions and treatment of keen defence personnel. The recent long overdue maritime and transport capability upgrades are welcome, as is the better pay deal, but much more needs to be done. The RAAF's ability to get things done and make things happen for its people is perhaps in part of having genuine capability at the sharp end and adequate funding. EDIT - to fix typos and grammar.
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Post by obiwan27 on May 15, 2023 10:37:31 GMT 12
A "massive" spending increase on Defence would be to double our measly 1% of GDP to where it should be - 2%. Maintaining it at 1% is just treading water and won't solve the problem. According to left-wing blogger Martyn Bradbury, Labour has “quietly” increased defence spending to “just under 2%”. Not sure how true that is but he argues for 3%! Read moreAccording to the recent North and South article, the NZDF has calculated that defence spending fluctuates between 0.8% and 1.1% of GDP. That about a 20% fluctuation over a few years. Chief of Defence Force urges Govt to chose a % betwen 1 & 2% and stick with it. In addition, $4.5 Billion of additional funding recently, was for equipment upgrades - The P8s, C130Js and new armoured vehicles (Bushmasters?) The blogger is probably alluding to that. At least they are finally giving the staff a pay boost, but they need to set a % of GDP and stick with it. northandsouth.co.nz/2023/02/11/new-zealand-defence-force/
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Post by obiwan27 on Apr 26, 2023 7:50:53 GMT 12
I am not sure why the media is devoting time to cover a topic that the RNZAF says is not actually a problem, when they could and should be publicising all the actual problems the NZDF is facing, and the government is doing nothing about. I believe that only North and South magazine have covered the actual issues NZDF is facing, particularly the attrition rate.
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Post by obiwan27 on Feb 17, 2023 14:25:49 GMT 12
Yes there's lots of informative information out there. Another great NIWA resource is their New Zealand Historic Weather Events Catalogue. "Welcome to the New Zealand Historic Weather Events Catalogue This is a catalogue of major weather events in New Zealand over the last 200 years from the 1800s to the present, when significant damage or casualties occurred. The information has been collated from newspaper reports, journals, books and databases kindly provided by various organisations and individuals. For each event we identify the regions affected, the hazards types associated with the event and the resulting impacts." hwe.niwa.co.nz/Sample search for the North island 14 April 1897: hwe.niwa.co.nz/event/April_1897_North_Island_FloodingIn relation to the current extreme weather event that has slammed Hawkes Bay and the Esk valley in particular, there's a website for the Esk River care group www.eskrivercare.org/esk-valley-floodsIt's interesting to view the photos of the 1938 flood in relation to the recent tragic events in the same location. :-) Put in a few parameters and lots of interesting historic data
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